The objective of this course is to enhance the ability of class members to interact effectively with people from cultures other than their own, specifically in the context of international business. The course is aimed at significantly improving the ability of practicing managers to be effective global managers. The course is concerned with considering the issues and problems of managing in cross-cultural situations, in particular at the people problems that invariably arise in international business relationships. Failure on the part of managers to understand and deal with the difference in attitudes, values and behaviour of those with whom they interact in business transactions consistently has been shown to be a major source of difficulties. The course will involve marrying theories and concepts from the broad fields of culture and international business and applying them to problems typically confronted by managers involved in international business. The course will draw on the existing knowledge and expertise of the class participants to solve problems relevant to them and their organisations.

 

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

Upon successful completion of the requirements for this course, students will be able to:

1.  discuss the main theories in cross-cultural management, analyse existing research around the theoretical constructs and argue the validity of the extant literature;
2. engage with the relevant contextual issues in cross-cultural management in relation to international business and the multi-cultural Australian workforce;
3. identify problems in cross-cultural management, relate the problems to the literature and suggest solutions; and,
4. communicate effectively in oral and written forms about cross cultural management using appropriate concepts, logic and rhetorical conventions.

Research-Led Teaching

The course is designed to provide students the opportunity to learn and critique extant research in cross-cultural management. Each week students have to read at least one research article which is then discussed in class in terms of its findings, applications and value in the business world. Students also have to critique existing models of cross cultural management in an essay. Assignments include a research essay, power point presentation, a professional report on a case study, and online discussions each week. All assessments require students’ to have an understanding of extant research in the field. In addition, the lecturer and guest lecturers present aspects of relevant current research they are conducting in the in the class.

Field Trips

Not relevant.

Additional Course Costs

There are no additional costs expected for this course.

Examination Material or equipment

There is no formal examination for this course.

Recommended Resources

Cross-Cultural Management in Work Organisations, 3rd Edition.

Author: French, R.

Publisher: London, UK: CIPD.

Edition: 3rd Ed.

ISBN: 9781843982432

Availability: Campus Bookstore

The book is available in the library for short term loan.

A copy of the textbook will be held in the ANU library reserve & short loan collection. Availability of this as an e-book through the library is being investigated.

The following books are also recommended for supplementary readings and will be held in the ANU library reserve & short loan collection (availability of these as e-books through the library is being investigated):

Steers, R. M., Sanchez-Runde, C. J., & Nardon, L. 2010. Management across Cultures: Challenges and Strategies. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

Strachan, G., French, E., & Burgess, J. (Eds.) 2010. Managing Diversity in Australia: Theory and Practice. Sydney, NSW: McGraw Hill.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given written and verbal feedback in this course.

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Seminar 1 - Introduction and the importance of Cross-cultural management	Chapters 1 & 2 of text book
2	Seminar 2 - Models of Cross- Cultural Management	Chapter 3 of textbook
3	Seminar 3 - Cross-cultural teams in organisations	Chapter 7 of the textbook Submit Assignment 1 (Short answer questions) worth 20% marks is due by 5 PM Friday Week 3.
4	Seminar 4 - Theory to Practice - Inter-cultural case studies
5	Seminar 5 - Intercultural communication and multi-lingualism in organisations	Chapter 6 of the textbook Submit Assignment 2 (RESEARCH ESSAY-Group/Individual assignment) worth 35% marks, is due by 5 PM Friday Week 5.
6	Seminar 6 - Negotiation and managing conflict in cross-cultural management
7	Seminar 7 - Diversity in the workforce	Submit Assignment 3 (POWER-POINT SLIDES) worth 15% marks is due by 5 PM Friday Week 7.
8	Seminar 8 - Global careers - Expatiation and repatriation
9	Seminar 9 - Leading in a multi-cultural organisation
10	Seminar 10 - Global organisations, MNCs and off-shoring	Chapter 10 of textbook.
11	Seminar 11 - Employee/Employer relationships and cross-cultural management
12	Seminar 12 - Cross cultural training: Effectiveness and myths	Submit Assignment 4 (REPORT ON CASE STUDY) worth 30% marks is due by 5PM Friday Week 12.

Tutorial Registration

Further details about the structure and teaching activities for this course will be available on the course Wattle site by start of Week 1.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
1. Short answer questions - 20%	20 %	14/08/2020	28/08/2020	1,2,3
2. Research Essay - 35%	35 %	28/08/2020	11/09/2020	1,2,4
3. Power point slides - 15%	15 %	25/09/2020	09/10/2020	1,2,4
4. Report on case study - 30%	30 %	30/10/2020	03/12/2020	1,2,3,4

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website Students may choose not to submit assessment items through Turnitin. In this instance you will be required to submit, alongside the assessment item itself, hard copies of all references included in the assessment item.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

Attempting all four assessment tasks for this course is expected.

Examination(s)

There is no formal examination for this course.

Assessment Task 1

1. Short answer questions - 20%

Individual assessment

4 Short answer questions relevant to Module 1

Value or Weighting (20%)

Will cover material from Weeks 1-3

Questions will be available on Wattle site at the end of week 2.

Word limit: 150 words per question/ case (+/- 10%)

Mark:

Content /15

Discussion of relevant issues in relation to the question

Examples provided to illustrate the question in an organisational context

 

Language/5

Appropriate paraphrasing, quoting and summarising from sources

Appropriate sentence structure, grammar and word limit.

Due Date: The assignment is due by 5pm Friday Week 3 via Turnitin on the course Wattle site.

Feedback by: Week 5

Assessment Task 2

2. Research Essay - 35%

Group/Individual (optional) Assessment

You are encouraged to deliver this assignment in a group up to 3 students. Working in a group will allow you to share diverse perspectives, practice intercultural communication and achieve the course learning outcomes.

To facilitate learning and interaction ,we will have online sessions before any assignment due date, where you can reach out your classmates, share your thoughts and ask questions.

The other possible way to form a group is communicating online with your classmates using DISCUSSION FORUM in the course Wattle site.

If you you find it difficult to schedule remote meetings with them, you have a choice to do the assignment individually.

Contributions Summary : Groups also need to prepare a Contributions Summary that outlines the roles and contributions of each group member in the Research essay. This provides individuals with an opportunity to demonstrate their skills and involvement. The details provide a point of reference if issues arise around unequal contributions.

Details of task:

Cross-cultural groups have the potential to outperform mono-cultural groups. With the help of existing research discuss three significant issues that can make a cross-cultural group successful in an organisational context. At least 10 relevant academic references should be cited in the essay.

Assessment Rubric:

Excellent

Good

Satisfactory

Needs some more work

Needs Much more work

Mark:

Content /25

• Detailed discussion of the theoretical perspective
• Examples provided to illustrate the theory in an organisational context
• Discussion of relevant issues in relation to the question
• Inclusion of citations from key research to develop argument
• Applications/recommendations for the contemporary global organisation

Structure, Language and Referencing conventions /10

Structure of essay:

• Introduction: Thesis statement, definition of key terms and outline of argument
• Main Body: Logical discussion, persuasive arguments and clarity in the author’s ‘voice’
• Conclusion: Summary of main argument and no new ideas or references.

Language:

• Appropriate paraphrasing, quoting and summarising from sources
• Appropriate sentence structure, grammar and word limit.

Referencing:

• All ideas taken from sources are appropriately referenced
• Reference list matches in-text references and is written in a consistent style.

Total Marks: 35

Word limit: 2000 words (+/- 10%)

Due Date: The assignment is due by 5pm Friday Week 5 via Turnitin on the course Wattle site.

Feedback by: Week 7

Assessment Task 3

3. Power point slides - 15%

Individual assessment

Prepare 8-10 power point slides (including a cover and reference list slide) based on the research essay. The set of slides should discuss the key issues from your essay but should be organised as a stand alone activity (i.e., I should not have to refer back to your essay for details).

Assessment Rubric

Excellent

Good

Satisfactory

Needs some more work

Needs Much more work

Mark

Content /10

• Display of clear understanding of the topic
• Discussion of the important issues in relation to the topic
• Use of significant research in relation to the topic
• Use of examples in illustrating the key issues
• Logical flow in the discussion

Format /5

• Easy to read slides
• Logical sequencing of slides
• Use of additional features (e.g., colour, icons, background images, etc) to make slides informative and effective.
• Careful editing of slides
• Number of slides within the recommended limit (8-10 slides).

Total Marks: 15

Due Date: The assignment is due by 5pm Friday Week 7 via Turnitin on the course Wattle site.

Feedback by: Week 9

Assessment Task 4

4. Report on case study - 30%

Individual assessment

The purpose of this assignment is to assess students’ ability to identify the cultural values and dimensions of different cultures and their impact on international business performance. The students should apply this knowledge from the perspective of a consultant, advising the company how they could mitigate some of the cross-cultural problems to enhance business performance.

Details of task: Read the the case study provided under the topic" Assessment 4- Report on case study" on Wattle and identity the problems in relation to cross-cultural management in this context. Assume the role of a management consultant specialised in communication and based on existing research provide recommendations on how these problems can be overcome. At least 12 relevant academic references should be cited in the report.

You must have the following sections to your report:

Cover page

Executive summary(is NOT included in the word limit )

Introduction

Literature review (brief review about the cultural issues you have found)

Analysis of the problem

Recommendations

Summary

References

Assessment Rubric

Excellent

Good

Satisfactory

Needs some more work

Needs Much more work

Mark

Content /20

• Appropriate identification of the problem
• Detailed discussion of relevant theoretical perspective(s) in relation to the problem
• Discussion of relevant contextual issues associated with the problem
• Inclusion of key citations from research to analyse the problem
• Creative and effective recommendations to rectify the problem
• Detailed description of the recommendations (including a budget if necessary)
• Recommendations presented in order of priority
• Links between the recommendations and existing theories/research
• Rationale behind the choice of recommendations
• Suggestions on relevant follow up activities when necessary.

Report Format /10

• Report has all the sections suggested in the case study
• Each section consists of information relevant to that section (4 marks)
• Professional format of the report
• Appropriate sentence structure, grammar and word limit
• Appropriate paraphrasing, quoting and summarising from sources
• All ideas taken from sources are appropriately referenced
• Reference list matches in-text references and is written in a consistent style.

Total Marks: 30

Word limit: 2000 words (+/- 10%)

Due Date: The assignment is due by 5pm Friday Week 12 via Turnitin on the course Wattle site.

Estimated return date: Marked assignments will be available after the release of final grades on 03 December 2020.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of our culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically. This means that all members of the community commit to honest and responsible scholarly practice and to upholding these values with respect and fairness. The Australian National University commits to embedding the values of academic integrity in our teaching and learning. We ensure that all members of our community understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with. The University has policies and procedures in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Visit the following Academic honesty & plagiarism website for more information about academic integrity and what the ANU considers academic misconduct. The ANU offers a number of services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. The Academic Skills and Learning Centre offers a number of workshops and seminars that you may find useful for your studies.

Online Submission

The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.

Hardcopy Submission

No hard copy submission would be required for this course.

Late Submission

Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date

All requests for extensions to assessment in RSM courses must be submitted to the RSM School Office with a completed application form and supporting documentation. The RSM Extension Application Form and further information on this process can be found at https://www.rsm.anu.edu.au/education/education-programs/notices-for-students/extension-application-procedure/

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Returning Assignments

Please see relevant assessment task details above

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure The Course Convener may grant extensions for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Resubmission of Assignments

Unless specified otherwise in the assignment requirements, resubmissions are permitted up until the due date and time, but not allowed afterwards.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information. In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service — including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy. If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes. Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students